been the family homestead for a
period of nearly twenty years. Subsequently he
purchased 120 acres, and the parents labored with a
mutual interest for the building up of a home for
themselves and their children. They are both living to
enjoy it, the father being now seventy years of age,
and the mother sixty-nine.
To the parents of our subject there
were born five children, the eldest of whom, a
daughter Jane, is a native of Ireland, and is the wife
of E. W. Ross, of Palmyra Precinct; Robert, our
subject, was the second child; John is in the lumber
business in Michigan; James W. died when about
twenty-four years old; Sarah E. is the wife of W. A.
Hartley, a resident of Bennet, Neb.
The first recollections of our
subject are of his childhood home in Greene County,
Vt., where he pursued his first studies in the common
schools. His education was completed in the Empire
State, and there he grew to manhood. He was a man of
twenty-seven years when he first came to Nebraska, and
in the meantime had become thoroughly acquainted with
the various pursuits of farm life. He had also engaged
considerably in the lumber business among the hemlock
regions of Lewis and Oneida Counties. At the time of
coming to Nebraska with his father's family he also
homesteaded a claim of eighty acres of land, and there
commenced to lay the foundations of a competency. Two
years later, March 6, 1872, he was united in marriage
with Miss Ellen E. Rockwell, who became the mother of
two children, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Ellen
E. Dunlap departed this life her home in Palmyra
Precinct, Feb. 19,1874. During that year Mr. Dunlap
was greatly afflicted, not only in the loss of his
wife but one of their children and a brother. His
crops were also partially destroyed by the
grasshoppers. He, however, fortunately had inherited
in a marked degree the sturdy courage of his excellent
Scotch ancestry, and outlived his discouragements,
evading no duty, but endeavoring to make the best of
circumstances. Time, the healer, caused him to
partially forget his losses.
The present wife of our subject, to
whom he was married May 24, 1876, was in her girlhood
Miss Ada Ogram, who was born in Yorkshire, England
March 21, 1855. She is the daughter of John and Hannah
(Johnson) Ogram, and came to America with her parents
when a child three years of age. They settled near
Fond du Lac, Wis., where the father engaged in
farming, and whence he removed July 5, 1870, to this
State. Mrs. Dunlap was then a young girl of fifteen
years. She remained with her parents until her
marriage: they are now residing in this county.
Of this union of our subject there
have been born six children, namely: Nellie J., Mary,
George W., Robert G., Harvey and Florence M. Mr.
Dunlap was formerly a Democrat, but since 1884 his
warm sympathies with the temperance movement have led
him to side with the Prohibitionists. Religiously, he
is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of Palmyra,
while his estimable wife belongs to the United
Brethren. Mrs. Dunlap is a very amiable and attractive
lady, and fulfills in an admirable manner the duties
of wife and mother. Our subject of late years has been
considerably interested in live stock, usually keeping
on hand about forty head of cattle and a large number
of swine. Of the latter he usually ships a carload
each fall. He is a man of good education, and has
served as a Director in his district.

EV.
GEORGE S. ALEXANDER. This gentleman was born in
Cumberland, R. I., on the 10th of July, 1832, and is
the son of Ira and Frances C. Alexander, natives
respectively of Rhode Island and Vermont. The family
is of Scottish ancestry, and its early representatives
in this country settled in Boston in early Colonial
days, prior to the burning of Deerfield, Conn., at
which place some of the family were killed and others
carried into captivity. The maternal ancestors, also
from Scotland, were among the early colonists in Rhode
Island. His maternal grandfather, George Sherman, was
a soldier in the War of the Revolution. The parents of
our subject were married in Cumberland, R. I., and
there resided during the remainder of their lives, his
father following the occupation of mechanic,
supplementing it by the working of a small farm.
They

324

OTOE COUNTY.

were active members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and the family circle included five
children, four of whom are living, viz: David; our
subject; Rachel, now Mrs. Thomas C. Wood, and
Charlotte.
The subject of this sketch commenced
work in a cotton-mill at the age of fourteen, and
afterward in the woolen-mills, where he progressed
until he became a weaver, which he continued to follow
for some years. He found time to attend school
sufficiently to acquire the groundwork of an
education, to which he added by constant reading and
thought, until he had attained a general proficiency
upon all current topics, and began teaching school
when about twenty-one years of age. For a time he was
engaged clerking in a store, in which he continued
until the year 1854.
In the mental makeup of our subject
there is a large preponderance of the devout, and his
religious experiences, linked with this mental
property, produced the conviction that the duty
devolving upon him was to take up the work of the
ministry in the service of the Great Head of the
church. Accordingly, upon the 30th of April, 1854, he
entered the ministry and preached his first sermon in
the town of Sandwich, Mass. From that point on and
through the southeastern part of Massachusetts he was
engaged in preaching for about twelve years; then for
one year at Westerly, R. I., and Norwich, Conn. In
1868 he came to Nebraska City and became the pastor of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, continuing in that
office until 1871. His next charge was at Peru, where
he remained for one year; next at Lincoln, where he
was stationed for two and a halt years as pastor of
St. Paul's Church, and for a like period he served as
Chaplain of the Nebraska State Prison. The winter of
1875 he served as Chaplain of the House of
Representatives of Nebraska, and in 1877 as Chaplain
of the State Senate. In March of that year he resigned
his position as Chaplain of the State Prison. The
August following he went to Champaign County, Ill.,
and in September joined the Illinois Conference, and
preached in the State in Champaign and Platt Counties
for five years. At the end of that period, feeling
that his health demanded a change, he came to
Syracuse, and for four years served the church of his
denomination in this city. At the same time he
purchased the Syracuse Journal, and from that
on continued as editor. He was the sole proprietor
until July of 1885, when he associated his son Arthur
D. as partner.
The subject of our sketch has been
twice married, in the first instance, on the 11th of
March, 1856, at Eastham, Mass., to Abby G. Smith, a
member of one of the oldest and most respected
families of Cape Cod, being a daughter of Davis Smith,
who was active during the War of 1812 in various
enterprises as a privateersman. The family have always
been extensively engaged in the deep sea fisheries.
This lady died in Lancaster County of this State, on
the 12th of September, 1876. By this union our subject
became the father of eight children, whose names are
recorded as follows: Arthur D., Alice M., George L.,
Lottie M., Hartley B., Irvin F., Minnie E., and also a
son who died in childhood. The first-named three of
the surviving children were born in Massachusetts, the
remaining ones in this State.
The second matrimonial alliance was
celebrated on the 20th of September, 1877, at Philo,
Ill., the lady being Susan M. Godding, daughter of
Russell and Abigail Godding. This lady was born in
Vermont, and is possessed of much innate refinement,
which has been increased and perfected by education
and culture. For twenty-five years she has been
engaged as a teacher of art, the first half of which
at the Providence Conference Seminary, East Sandwich,
R. I., and the Quaker College, of Providence, R. I.
She was finally compelled to retire from the duties of
this position, owing to failing health, but still
devotes much time to painting and teaching. She has
brought to her husband a well-cultivated mind and
ripened intelligence, that has been at once a help and
source of pleasurable delight throughout the years of
their companionship.
In the Masonic fraternity Me,
Alexander is very widely and favorably known, both as
a member, worker and lecturer. He took the first two
degrees in the Pilgrim Lodge, Harwich, Mass., the
third degree in the Marine Lodge, of Falmouth, Mass.
The degrees leading up to that of the Royal Arch Mason
were received in the Orient Chapter, of Hyan-

OTOE COUNTY.

325

nis, Mass., his Council degrees in
Howard Council, Westerly, R. I., and he was knighted
in the Mt. Olivet Commandery at Nebraska City. Among
brothers, fellows and companions he is regarded with
much esteem, and among the Sir Knights as a true
soldier of the temple. His historical lectures upon
masonry have been well received by the fraternity, and
those in outer circles who have been privileged to
listen to them, and have been the occasion of many
justly complimentary remarks.

EV.
CHARLES HEISE, a retired clergyman of the Lutheran
Church, having numbered a little more than his
threescore years, is living quietly at his farm on
section 2, Belmont Precinct. He here has 240 acres of
fine land, the operations of which are carried on by
himself. He is a cultivated gentleman of excellent
education, a quiet, unassuming citizen, who during the
years of a well-spent life has fully established
himself in the esteem and confidence of all who know
him.
The childhood home of our subject
was in the Province of Saxony, Prussia, where his
birth took place Sept. 26, 1822. His parents were
Samuel and Augusta Heise, who were also of German
birth and parentage, and who spent the greater part of
their lives in Germany. Their family consisted of six
children, who are now mostly deceased.
The subject of this sketch completed
the details of a very careful education in the
gymnasium at Magdeburg and the University of Berlin.
These institutions were conducted with that
thoroughness peculiar to the schools of the
Fatherland, and young Heise was thus fairly equipped
for a career which has reflected great credit upon his
natural talent and his fidelity to duty.
In December, 1855, Mr. Heise
embarked on a sailing-vessel at Bremen for the United
States, and soon after landing upon American soil was
stationed in Cincinnati, Ohio, as pastor of the German
Lutheran Church, where he remained two years. Thence
he removed to New Bremen, that State, and had charge
of the Lutheran Congregation there for a period of
twenty-two years. From there he came to this county in
March, 1880, and settled upon the land which he now
owns and occupies, forced to abandon his pastoral
duties on account of a throat trouble, which finally
developed into bronchitis. Under his wise supervision
many improvements have been brought about upon the
place since he assumed ownership. and he is surrounded
by all of the comforts of the ideal country home.
Mr. Heise while a resident of
Cincinnati, Ohio, was married, Jan. 10, 1858, to Miss
Sophia Wehmer. This lady was born Sept. 10, 1833, in
Germany, and is the daughter of Christian and
Catherine (Schriver) Wehmer, who were natives of
Germany; the mother is residing in Cincinnati, Ohio,
but the father is deceased. The parental household
included eight children, seven of whom are living, and
residing mostly in the United States.
To our subject and his estimable
wife there have been born eight children, seven of
whom are living, namely: Oscar N., Walter S., Emil P.,
Otto C., Flora, Martha and Ida. Oscar married Miss
Emelia Marqua, and is a practicing surgeon dentist of
Cincinnati, Ohio; he is the father of one child, a
daughter, Viola. Flora is the wife of Willis Roberts,
who is occupied at farming in Rawlins County, Kan.;
Walter is traveling on the Pacific Slope as a salesman
for the carriage manufacturing firm of Davis &
Co., of Cincinnati; Emil is employed at merchandising
in Syracuse, this county. The education of the younger
children, who are at home with being conducted under
the care of their father. All the family are members
of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Heise has very little to
do with public affairs, preferring to devote his
attention to his farming interests and his family.

HOMAS
A. GILMORE. Upon section 12 of Belmont Precinct is a
general and stock farm, comprising 160 acres, which,
whether notice be taken of the fields or pastures,
buildings or residence, usually excites nothing but
remarks of admiration and congratulation, and worthily
so, because it is one of the best cultivated and
regulated properties within a very large section of
the country. It is the property of the gentleman

326

OTOE COUNTY.

whose name stands at the head of
this biographical epitome. The nativity of our subject
occurred on the 17th of October, 1854, in Morgan
County, Ill. He is the descendant of an honored family
not altogether unknown in historic annals. He is the
son of John W. and Frances (Wardell) Gilmore. His
father, who was a native of County Derry, Ireland,
came to the United States when about eighteen years of
age, and became one of New Orleans' successful
merchants. He followed also the business of a pork
packer, and at one time was the owner of a line of
flatboats on the river, continuing that business
relation for some fourteen years. His demise occurred
June 19, 1872.
The mother of our subject was a
daughter of Thomas Wardall, of England. His father,
Christopher Wardall, was a native of England, and was
in the service of King William, and served him as his
armor bearer. He upon several occasions did his royal
master good service, and after a fiercely fought
battle saved the life of the king. In honor of the
occurrence his name was changed by the king from
Wardal to Wardall, seeing that he had by his
adroitness and skill in arms warded off the blow that
would have been fatal to the royal soldier.
The family circle of which our
subject was a member numbered seven children, three of
whom only are now living, namely: Elizabeth, John and
the subject of our sketch. Elizabeth is now residing
at "The Pines," the name given the home farm of our
subject, and John is one of the rising and successful
farmers of Thomas County, Kan.; James, who died after
reaching the age of thirty-eight years, was
extensively engaged in business at the time of his
death as a railroad contractor, and left large
business interests which it had been his ambition and
hope to finish. His bereaved wife and five daughters
mourned his loss as one who had well-nigh perfectly
filled the sacred relations of the home. His wife was
the daughter of George Robinson, and bore the given
name Susannah. The names of his daughters were as
follows: Frances, Anna, Mabel, Effie and
Catherine.
The subject of our sketch is yet
numbered among the free and untrammelled bachelors,
and has been in no hurry to make any change. He is
chiefly occupied with his farm, and takes just and
laudable pride in bringing it to the highest possible
state of cultivation, and in the raising of the best
possible grades of stock. He and his mother are both
members of the Presbyterian Church. He has not taken a
prominent part in political affairs, although usually
voting with the Democratic party, and is not by any
means anxious, to accept any official seat, although
he has several times been requested so to do.

ICK
A. NEEMANN, the proprietor of a good farm on section
30 in Rock Creek Precinct, besides land elsewhere in
this vicinity, located where he now lives in the
spring of 1859, while Nebraska was a Territory. He
thus bears the honor of being one of the earliest
pioneers of this county, and it is hardly necessary to
say that the land of which he then took possession had
been unbroken by the plowshare. He has labored
industriously upon it for a period of nearly thirty
years, and it gives ample evidence of the success
which has crowned his efforts. The land has been
brought to a high state of cultivation, and upon it
have been erected good farm buildings, while from time
to time have been added the conveniences and
embellishments which have secured for it the
reputation of being one of the most desirable homes in
this part of the county.
Mr. Neemann came to this region a
poor man, having little capital save his stout heart
and willing hands. In this respect, however, he was
not different from his neighbors, so there were no ill
feelings on account of his poverty. He made his way to
the Territory of Nebraska from Madison County, Ill.,
in the spring of 1859, overland with a team, crossing
the Father of Waters on a ferry. He had only lived in
Illinois a few months, having settled there in the
previous fall, soon after landing upon American soil.
His earliest recollections are of a home in what was
then the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, where his birth
took place on the 3d of December, 1825. His parents
were Albert and Margaret Neemann, who were of pure
German ancestry; the father died in Germany, and

OTOE COUNTY.

327

the mother in Otoe County, Neb.
Their family consisted of four sons and three
daughters, most of whom are living in Nebraska.
Our subject was reared to manhood in
his native Province, and, like most of the children of
Germany, was placed in school at an early age and
given a thorough education in his native tongue. Upon
attaining his majority, in accordance with the laws of
the Empire, he went into the army and served the
Government a period of four years. Afterward, May 15,
1851, he was married to one of the associates of his
youth, Miss Christina Wilhelmina, whose birthplace was
not far from that of her husband. This lady our
subject holds in the most affectionate regard, and
acknowledges with true manliness that she has been his
able assistant in his efforts at securing a home and a
competence. Their union has been blessed by the birth
of four children, the record of whom is as follows:
George S. married Miss Cosha Rodermaker, and they are
living on a farm in McWilliams Precinct; Christina M.
is the wife of Herman Jackal, who is in business in
Hamburg, Iowa; Albert is the assistant of his brother
George on the farm; John H. remains with his parents.
Mr. Neemann since becoming a naturalized American
citizen has uniformly supported Democratic principles,
and, with his family, is connected in membership with
the Lutheran Church.

ENRY
HEYE, who is pleasantly located on section 23 in
Belmont Precinct, is one of the most intelligent and
prosperous German farmers along the eastern line of
this county. A native of the then Kingdom of Hanover,
Germany, he was born March 11, 1836, and is the son of
John G. and Mary (Schultz) Heye, who were also born
and reared in the Fatherland, where they lived until
August of 1847.
That year John G. Heye with his
little family emigrated to the United States and
settled in Clayton County, Iowa, where the father
carried on farming and where his death took place in
July, 1883, after he had reached an advanced age. The
mother had passed away in the spring of 1850. The
parental household included six children. only two of
whom are living, our subject and his sister Mary, Mrs.
Kruger, still a resident of Clayton County, Iowa.
The Indians were just leaving when
the Heye family settled on their land in lowa. and
there were consequently no educational advantages for
our subject or his brothers. He is, however, by no
means an ignorant man, as all through life he has kept
his eyes and ears open to what was going on around
him, and by availing himself of every opportunity for
information, will pass for a man with a very good
education. He was early made familiar with the various
employments of pioneer farm life and assisted his
father in the development of his land, working from
early morn till late at night. He was twenty-one years
of age in the spring of 1857, and on the 21st of
November following was united in marriage with Miss
Mary Oelka, the wedding taking place at the home of
our subject's father. in Clayton County, Iowa. This
lady was also a native of Hanover, and born in August,
1835. Her parents were John and Maggie Oelka, the
former of whom died about 1860, and the latter is
still living.
Mr. and Mrs. Heye commenced the
journey of life together upon a farm in Clayton
County, Iowa, where they lived until July of 1861.
They then changed their residence to this county, our
subject taking up 160 acres of land on section 23 in
Belmont Precinct. Their first dwelling here was a
small house, and Mr. Heye at once commenced the
improvement of his purchase. He was greatly prospered
in his labors, as the soil yielded bountifully, and he
gradually put up the buildings required by the modern
and progressive agriculturist. He is now the owner of
320 broad acres, with substantial farm buildings, and
his homestead invariably attracts the attention of
every intelligent traveler passing through this
region. He keeps numbers of cattle, horses and swine,
carries on agriculture by means of the most improved
machinery, and his barns afford ample storage for
grain and stock. The whole premises has that air of
plenty, comfort and broad hospitality which is so
grateful to the eye and so cheering to those who are
fortunate enough to be the friends of the family.
Mr. Heye cast his first Presidential
vote for Lin-

328

OTOE COUNTY.

coln, and has uniformly supported
the principles of the Republican party. He is
thoroughly identified with the interests of his
adopted county, and in the development of one of its
finest farms has contributed largely to its wealth and
importance. He has been quite prominent in local
affairs, officiating as Road Supervisor, School
Director, Assessor, and is at present County
Commissioner. He is a man prompt to meet his
obligations, and one whose word is considered as good
as his bond.
To our subject and his wife there
have been born nine children, five only of whom are
living, namely: Maggie, Mary, Frederick, Henry E.,
Jr., and George. The eldest daughter, Maggie, is the
wife of Charles Bramer, a well-to-do farmer of Rock
Creek Precinct, and the mother of three
children--Charles, Clara and Minnie. The other
children of Mr. Heye continue under the home roof, and
are being given the educational advantages in keeping
with their station in life.
Mr. Heye is liberal and
public-spirited, and no man takes a warmer interest in
the welfare and advancement of his community. Although
not a member of any religious organization, he
believes in the establishment and maintenance of
churches, and gives of his means to this object. He is
widely and favorably known throughout Belmont Precinct
and vicinity as one of its most prosperous farmers,
and one of the foremost representatives of the
nationality which has done so much toward the
development of the Great West.

RANK
MEYER. One branch of the interests of the traveling
public is receiving good attention by the subject of
this sketch, who is conducting a first-class livery
stable in the village of Talmage. For this purpose he
has an excellent outfit, double and single carriages,
and fourteen head of horses, which are usually all in
demand. Besides the property comprising this
establishment, Mr. Meyer is the owner of a good farm
of 210 acres in Osage Precinct, and which is supplied
with all necessary farm buildings, machinery and live
stock.
Of his farm Mr. Meyer has been
proprietor for a period of ten years, and upon it has
effected many improvements during this time.
Providence has blessed him with a large measure of
practical good sense, and this, added to his industry,
and perseverance, has resulted in making him
comparatively independent. He became a resident of
this State in the spring of 1865, coming here in
company with his father, Frank H. Meyer, who is now
deceased. Frank was then a lad of twelve years, having
been born Jan. 26, 1853.
The father of our subject was a
native of the Kingdom of Bavaria, where he was reared
and educated, and where he married Miss Elizabeth
Kerthberger, a native of the same section of country.
They were of pure German ancestry, and the elder Meyer
during his early manhood learned the miller's trade,
while at the same time he became familiar with farming
pursuits. Upon emigrating to America with their little
family of seven children, the parents located in
Gasconade County, Mo., where two more children were
born, which completed the household circle of six sons
and three daughters. After the outbreak of the
Rebellion Mr. Meyer enlisted as a Union soldier in the
4th Missouri Infantry, and did brave and faithful
service for a period of two years. Upon his return
home he sold his Missouri land, and coining to this
State locating in Otoe County. He only lived until the
following year, dying in 1866, when not quite fifty
years of age. It has always been believed by his
family that the hardships and privations which he
endured in the army undermined his health and cut
short his days. The mother is yet living, is now
sixty-seven years of age, and makes her home in
Talmage with our subject. Her other sons and daughters
are residents mostly of Nebraska, and all the family
are connected with the German Catholic Church, of
Nebraska City.
Our subject was little more than an
infant when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents,
and received his education mostly in Gasconade County,
Mo. He now owns and occupies the old farm which was
secured by his father before the death of the latter.
To this he brought a bride in the winter of 1887,
having been married December 28, that year, to Miss
Mary Butsch. This lady was born in Lee County, Iowa,
in 1864, and came to